The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-05-21
Plain Words About Indiana Gas.

Professor Cox in his letter printed in the
Journal of to-day, makes the following state
ment: ''It would be something very strange if
one who had devoted more than thirty years of
his life TO the practical study of the geological
formations of Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky Ar
kansas. Missouri, Iowa and Wisconsin could
not while sitting at his desk in New York, know
enough of the rocks to be penetrated by the
drill in Indiana, from study of their crop in
other localities, to write with much intelli-
gence their physical characteristics another,
who has simply examined a few small fragments
broken off by the drill in making six or eight
inch hole"
AS Professor Cox's letter was in answer to one
of my papers, L take this method of saying
simply that have examined the outcrop of the
Trenton rock oftener, and in more widely diverse
places than those mentioned by him. My state
ments all have been made upon knowledge. It
may not be in accord with the timid methods of
some scientists, but have the courage of my
convictions, when those convictions rest
facts, and dare express them unequivocally.
Not only will 1 express them freely and directly;
they will stand until they disproven. have not
any theory" of the porosity OF the Indiana
Trenton limestone but have stated it we'll
settled and incoutrovertible fact If Prof. Cox
knows that our Trenton limestone is not porous,
let him state when, and where and how he OBJ
tanned his knowledge. Frankly / dare say that
Professor Cox knows nothing whatever about
Indiana Trenton limestone, for the simple
son ina. ne mas hao no opportunity 70 get the
knowledge. The better the geologist the more
ridiculous he makes himself by assuming to
speak with authority upon what he has not
amined. If Professor Cox knew ten twelve
years ago what he assumes that he knew
about Trenton rock" why did he not enlighten
u somewhat the subject IN his reports
State Geologist2 A man who could see riffs and
assures in the Trenton limestone thousand
feet below the surface ought to have
been able to discover our wonderful
that gas stored in Stratum of our Tren-
ton formation, because at the time he was State
Geologist the drill had not enligh tened him. AS
to what he says about the spring water being
accompanied Dy small quantities of gas without
any noticeable presence of petroleum, it is very
true and easily explained Most of the oil
which, in fine state of mechanical division,
starts on its journey to the surface with the gas
and water is absorbed by the clayey filter
through which 1t passes The affinity which
clay has for petroleum is we'll known, and there
would be no surer method of Riding gas of it's
spray of oil than by passing it through clayey
stratum for instance, dirty sandstone
field bears, or did at first bear. small
amount of rock oil in fine state
of division. Many of the ONO wells also send
forth gas charged with spray of petroleum, and
/ have no doubt of the fact that the gas coming
from certain springs in our State bears ex-
ceedingly minute quantity of the same.
AS Professor Coxs prediction that gas will
be found nearer indianapolis than Broad Ripple,
he may possibly have guessed correctly. but at
best IL is blind guess and worthy of
consideration than any other blind guess. Does
not every body know that if Professor Cox knew
just where gas could be found he would be here
locating wells and selling them at good pricel
know that he does not know, and know that
other knows 1t Is not very hard
TO tell that gas will not be found at
of facts that gas would probably not be found
along certain parts of the Wabash river, because
of the shattered and disturbed condition of the
strata. which had permitted it to escape. shall
be very glad if my judgment proves to be incor
rect. for l should like to Huntington,
Wabash. Peru. Logansport, Delphi and Lafay
cite strikes rich deposits of the precious fluid;
but so far my prediction holds good, because 1t
was based upon visible facts, which appeared to
Justify it. / have no patience with guess-work
science and Professor Cox is too able and useful
a man to indulge in such folly He knows very
well that he cannot come to Indiana and pick
out a single new spot, five miles from any
existing u we'll and Sonnd say .hs certainly That
also knows tina. other man do it, save by
a lucky guess / speak thus plainly in strict
justice to the thousands of Indiana citizens, who,
in their excited state of interest in gas likely
to be led into the foolish expenditure of large
amounts of money boring wildly and at random
everywhere and anywhere.
AS to Indianapolis. If ITS citizens Will take my
statements for whatever they may think them
worth. should say that the part of wisdom is TO
extend the prospecting wells IN quarter circle
eastwardly and northwardly towards Greenfield,
Anderson and Nob1esville, and thus approach
points nearest Indianapolis where gas is known
to exist in large quantities BY far the larger
probability is that. get it's gas where it may and
in what initial quantity 1t may, In
dianapois will have TO sink wells
and many of them at intervals in order to keep
up the supply Our field of gas is magnificent
one but IL has been vastly overestimated by
many IN both its area and its supply. No doubt
there is enough to supply all our resl needs for
a great while If we properly econon ze it; but
the waste just now is simply incalculabe. We
shall need this wasted gas some oe these days.
and bemoan our prodigaty in proportion to the
need. 1t is vastly of more Importance that
diana shall reap the fullest benefit therefrom,
than that any theory of rock structure gas
1eneration shouId Droye To ba false true